Pencil-holder



(No Model.)

W. H. BENPORD. PENCIL HOLDER.

No. 586,586. Patented July 20,1897.

. iigesscs a: news mans cu, "mam-mo" wAs-uwno. 0 c

UNITnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. BENFORD, OF LAMAR, MISSOURI.

PENCIL-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,585, dated July 20, 1897.

Application filed September 12, 1896. Serial No. 605,628. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BENFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lamar in the county of Barton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Pencil-IIolder, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in pencil-holders.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device adapted to be readily applied to any ordinary pencil to hold the same in a pocket and capable of enabling the pencil to be readily arranged in apocket in a position for retaining the other contents therein.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pencil-holder constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a pencil. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. tive View of the clasp.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the d rawings.

1 designates a pencil-holder clasp, which is mounted on a pencil 2 by means of an elastic band 3, embracing the pencil and adapted to perform a double function of attaching the clasp to the pencil and of imparting resiliency to the former to cause the same to engage a pocket when the pencil is arranged therein. The clasp or catch 1, which is preferably constructed of a single piece of wire, consists of a pair of substantially L-shaped jaws or hooks 4, arranged practically parallel with each other, a pair of fulcruming loops or arms 5, adapted to bear against the pencil and normally disposed perpendicular to the same, and a thumb-piece 6, consisting of a substantially U-shaped loop forming a continuation of the shanks of the hooks or jaws 4, and extending in the opposite direction from the upper ends of the arms or loops 5.

The parts of the clasp or catch 1 are formed by doubling a piece of wire into U shape to Fig. 3 is a detail perspecform two sides and to construct the loop or thumbpiece 6. The sides are then doubled or bent to form the fulcruming loops or arms 5, the loop or thumb-piece being bent from the upper or outer portions of the loops or arms 5 in one direction and the terminals or end portions of the sides being bent in the opposite direction to form practically an extension or continuation of the loop or thumbpiece 6. The terminals of the end portions of the sides of the clasp or catch are bent inward at right angles to form the hook portions for engaging the exterior of a pocket. By this construction a lever-frame is produced which is adapted to be rocked on the fulcruming arms or supports 5 to swing the engaging hooks or jaws 41 away from the pencil to disengage the same from a pocket to permit the pencil to be placed therein.

The elastic band is constructed of a fiat strip of rubber which is inserted edgewise in the open loops 5, and the band, when placed on the pencil, is arranged flat against the side thereof. The portion of the band which is disposed in the loops 5 is held edgewise of the pencil and the band is distended by this arrangement, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, whereby the jaws or hooks 4 are held firmly against the body of the pencil when the latter is not inserted in the pocket. The band performs the double function of attaching the clasp or catch to the pencil and of forming a spring and imparting resiliency to the same. It yieldingly secures the clasp or catch to the pencil and enables the same to be readily removed therefrom or placed thereon when desired, and the holder is applicable to pens and other instruments usually carried in the pocket.

The fulcruming-loops 5 have their sides arranged in transverse alinement, the inner terminals of the shanks of the hooks or jaws 4 being connected with the inner sides of the loops and the handle portion or loop 6 being connected with the outer sides of the same. The loop 6, which forms the handle portion, is arranged in convenient position with relation to the pencil to be readily depressed in grasping the pencil to place the same in a pocket or to remove it therefrom. The pencil is placed Within the pocket at the inner side or in rear of any other contents thereof, and the jaws or hooks extend on the outside of the pocket and engage the same, the points of the hooks entering the fabric of a garment, whereby the pencil is held against withdrawal, and the other contents of the pocket between the front of the latter and the pencil are also held in the former.

It will be seen that the device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily applied to a pencil, pen, or the like, andthat it is capable of being conveniently operated in the act of grasping a pencil in inserting the latter in a pocket or in removing it therefrom. It will also be apparent that it is adapted to assist in preventing the other contents of the pocket from becoming accidentally lost.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sac-.

rificing any of the advantages of this invention.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A pencil-holder comprising a clasp consisting of a lever-frame and composed of an engaging jaw, a handle portion forming substantially a continuation of the same, and an inwardly-extending fulcruming arm or support arranged to bear against a pencil, pen or the like, whereby the clasp is adapted to be rocked when the handle portion is depressed, and an elastic band connected with the clasp and arranged to embrace a pencil, whereby the clasp is secured to the same and is rendered resilient, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A pencil-holder comprising a clasp composed of a pair of engaging jaws or hooks, a pair of loops extending inward from the inner terminals ofthe same and adapted to fulcrum the clasp of a pencil, and a finger-piece extending from the fulcruming-loops in the opposite direction from the jaws and forming substantially a continuation of the same, and a fiat elastic band arranged edgewise in the fulcruming-loops and adapted to embrace a pencil, pen or the like, substantially as described. V

3. A pencil-holder comprising a clasp constructed of a single piece of wire and consisting of a pair of substantially L-shaped jaws or hooks, the fulcruming-loops 5 opened at their outer ends and disposed at an angle to the inner terminals of the hooks or jaws and adapted to bear against a pencil, pen or the like, said loops having their sides arranged in transverse alinement and their inner sides bein g connected with the inner terminals of the shanks of the hook, and a U-shaped loop or handle portion disposed in substantially the same plane as the shanks of the hooks and extending in opposite direction from the outer sides of the fulcruming-loops, and a fiat elastic band inserted edgewise in the fulcru mingloops, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. BENFORD.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE M. LnAsE, JAMES DUSTY I'IILLMAN. 

